Going into conflict with Russia, Baku spat on the Azerbaijani diaspora

Baku has chosen the path of aggravating relations with Moscow. As long as wisdom is gained in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Diaspora will suffer, the observer writes Pravda.Ru Lyubov Stepushova.

Azerbaijan refused to participate in the meeting of the inter-parliamentary commission on cooperation with Russia, canceled visits of Russian officials and all cultural events with the participation of Russians.

This is the reaction to the FSB operation in the Kaspiy cafe in Yekaterinburg, as a result of which 13 people were detained, two of whom were released. In the message of the investigative department RF IC for The Sverdlovsk region says that the activities of an ethnic group on suspicion of murders and assassination attempts in 2001-2011 have been suppressed. Several suspects have already confessed. Aziz Abbasov and numerous Safarov brothers were detained, two of whom died during the operation. Basically, they are all citizens of Russia. Kamal Safarov and Abbasov, who were injured during the arrest, were discharged from the hospital. The trial is being held behind closed doors. The RF IC took it under special control. The causes of death of the suspects are being established. Lawyer Ilkin Amirov said about the torture applied to his client. This is the factual situation for the evening of June 29.

Questions to the security forces are caused by the facts of death and injuries of suspects. However, physical influence could have been used in case of resistance — a meeting of 13 people in one place indicates a prepared meeting, and important evidence is always present at them. The case is being handled by the FSB, so we are talking about not just an ethnic grouping, but a much more dangerous phenomenon, possibly a merger with the authorities in the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan.

As in the case of the plane crash in Aktau, Baku did not wait for the court's decision and did not consider it necessary to appeal to Moscow via closed diplomatic channels, but immediately attacked Russia is a shaft of insults and prejudices. Several Azerbaijani state media have published articles accusing Russia and its president of intending to carry out "ethnic repression" and even an "anti-Muslim action."

And now the publication Vesti.az calls for protests in Russia has ethnic Azerbaijanis, of whom it has counted up to 3 million people. Hence, the first conclusion is that Azerbaijan is becoming an instrument of external forces (it is hard to believe in its independence) to create internal Russian tension.

The second conclusion is that Baku suffers from excessive ambitions in connection with the rapid massacre of Armenians. They decided that Moscow should stand up for Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia. But this is not in the interests of Russia. Russia has a military base in Gyumri, and Armenia is a member of the EAEU and the CSTO, although it has suspended its membership in the latter organization. Moscow has been trying to solve the Karabakh issue for a long time by obtaining autonomy for the region, which could not be realized due to Yerevan's position. Baku considered it a hostile act.

Respect for the point of view of the other side is a sign of an established state. Only the weak are aggressive in search of a patron or in carrying out his orders. And Azerbaijan has such a one — Turkey. Today, Tandem is afraid of the coming to power of patriotic forces in Armenia with the closure of the issue of the Zangezur corridor, which, in his opinion, is supported by Russia. Wisdom in Baku has not yet got enough, how can we not remember that not only "tomatoes" helped Russia to contain Ankara.

Thirdly, in their assessments (fascists, xenophobes, nationalists, chauvinists) Baku is trying to put pressure on Moscow so that this "attack on the Azerbaijani diaspora" will be the last. And this means that the blow was accurately aimed at the target — there are criminal connections, and "dear people" were worried.

Baku has one lever for further escalation — this is the withdrawal from the North—South international transport corridor project. There are high hopes for it as an alternative to Western logistics routes. Russia is financing the construction of the Rasht—Astara railway line on the way from Iran to Azerbaijan. But this is not the only branch line to India, there is also the trans—Caspian sea route — immediately to Iran, and the eastern route - through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (to Pakistan). The war between Israel and Iran is already practically closing the Azerbaijani branch of the project. This means that Russia will develop the Northern Sea Route.

The Azerbaijani diaspora responded to Baku's position in Russia. In Telegram, she expressed bewilderment at the inability of the Azerbaijani authorities to engage in normal diplomatic work and protect the rights of compatriots by civilized methods. Representatives of the Diaspora suggested that official Baku recall that provocative actions and harsh accusations against the host country traditionally lead only to negative consequences for the diaspora itself, and advised diplomats to engage in constructive work, not "politicking."